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VerHagen placed on Triple-A DL with ailing back

7/19/14: Tigers' rookie Drew VerHagen strikes out Jason Kipnis for his first career strikeout

By Adam Lichtenstein
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MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- After making his Major League debut in a spot start for the Tigers on Saturday, Drew VerHagen was placed on Triple-A Toledo's disabled list on Tuesday.

VerHagen has been dealing with back issues, and when he was sent back down to the Minor Leagues it was determined he would miss at least one start, so he was placed on the seven-day DL with what is being called a lower back strain.

Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said VerHagen would have an MRI and a bone scan on Wednesday, and the results would be sent to Dr. Tom Tolli in St. Petersburg, Fla., to determine the severity of the injury.

"He's had it off and on during his career," Rand said. "But his left side and lower back pain was bothering him to the point where he was going to miss a start."

In his one start with the Tigers, VerHagen went five innings against the Indians and gave up three runs on five hits. The 23-year-old was a fourth-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2012.

Adam Lichtenstein is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.